Behind OLIVIA – And The Secret of The Shadow Dancers

At Østre Gasværk Teater in Copenhagen, OLIVIA – and the secret of the shadow dancers takes audiences into a world where reality and imagination collide.

Where The Stage Becomes Part of The Story

With music by Rasmus Seebach, Ankerstjerne and Andreas Sommer, the original Danish musical combines spectacular scenery, aerial performances, choreography and theatrical illusions to bring a magical universe to life.

And behind the magic? A stage designed to move.

We supplied the production with our M:RD750 double revolving stage, alongside a MOVEKET automation setup featuring chain hoists, winches and Expert III control.

Together, these technologies help transform the stage from a static performance space into an active part of the storytelling.

Two Movements. One Stage. Endless Possibilities.

At the centre of the production is our M:RD750 double revolving stage.

With an overall diameter of approximately 7.5 metres, the system features two independently rotating sections: a central disc measuring approximately 5 metres and an outer ring extending to 7.5 metres.

Unlike a conventional revolving stage, the M:RD750 allows the two sections to move independently, opening up new possibilities for scenic transitions, performer positioning and dynamic stage compositions.

For a production like OLIVIA, where the story moves between reality and imagination, this flexibility becomes a powerful creative tool.

EXPLORE THE M:RD750

From Slowmotion To Fast Falls

Beyond the revolving stage, the production incorporates additional automation to support its ambitious aerial choreography and scenic design.

MOTOR supplied MOVEKET VMK-S 125 kg and 500 kg chain hoists, together with MOVEKET winches, including the VMW-S 125, all operated through a MOVEKET Expert III control desk.

From carefully controlled slow-motion sequences to sudden, fast-paced movements, the winches open up creative possibilities that go far beyond simply lifting and lowering.

For Aerial Designer Sita Bhuller Otto, the speed of the winches and the height available on stage became important elements in developing the choreography.

  • “It has been exciting to work with the speed of the winches and height available on stage, trying to combine moments of slow motion to fast falls and choreography incorporating them into the story and dialogue seamlessly.”

    — Sita Bhuller Otto, Aerial Designer for OLIVIA

  • "We are proud and happy about our collaboration with MOTOR. It ensures that our work involving automation and aerial work is safe and secure. Competent, professional, and safe."

    — Søren Møller, Artistic Director & Creative Producer, Østre Gasværk Teater

Engineering The Illusion

What makes OLIVIA particularly interesting from an automation perspective is the way mechanical movement contributes to the storytelling.

The revolving stage transforms the physical environment, while the overhead automation adds another dimension through controlled aerial and scenic movement.

Together, these elements create a production where engineering and creativity work hand in hand.

The result is a stage that does more than provide a setting. It becomes an active part of the performance, supporting everything from seamless scenic transitions to dramatic moments suspended above the stage.

For us, OLIVIA demonstrates how the right combination of stage machinery, motion control and creative engineering can help turn ambitious ideas into memorable live experiences.

Production:
Østre Gasværk Teater

Original Idea: Ankerstjerne &
Rasmus Seebach

Script:
Adam Price

Music:
Rasmus Seebach, Ankerstjerne & Andreas Sommer

Director:
Thomas Agerholm

Set Designer:
Benjamin La Cour

Costume Designer:
Line Bech

Musical Director: Martin Konge

Production Credits

Choreographer:
Nellie Bethel Rainey

Aerial Designer:
Sita Bhuller Otto

Lighting Designer:
Ulrik Gad

Sound Designer:
Tim Høyer

Illusion Designer & Magic Consultant:
John Bulleid

Symphonic Orchestrator:
Marianna Filippi

Stage Automation:
MOTOR Stage Automation